THE EIGHT IMMORTALS OF THE TAOIST RELIGION 73 



with the commission, accompanied by the other seven. 

 Fortunately old Lao-kung was pleased to oblige them, 

 though at the moment of interview he was not in a particu- 

 larly good humour, owing to the news just brought to him 

 that his writings had been pirated on earth. Lao-kung was 

 kind enough to compose a couplet of 76 characters for them 

 also. Then the Eight returned mounted on clouds and 

 manufactured a scroll of rare beauty. It was made of a 

 piece of self-existing silk, the stars were used for setting 

 the characters ; and the rainbow was cut into decorating 

 tassels. The scroll was made to the exact size of Wang-mu's 

 hall, and was presented to her by the immortal acolytes fill M. 

 together with the immortal peach and nectar. 



Now the celebration of this celestial matron's birthday 

 was indeed a glorious event. All the Buddhas, and Yu-huang 

 3S H and all the spirits and genii were present, each bearing 

 the best of gifts that could be secured. The Immortal Eight 

 decked in the most luxuriant of their apparel, made their 

 appearance amidst high rejoicing and warm welcome. The 

 old dame was especially pleased with the gift of the Eight, 

 owing to its incomparable brilliancy and its fabulous value, 

 and entertained them in her private park. Oh, it was a 

 place of enchantment ! Strange flowers bloomed luxuriantly, 

 and wonderful herbs grew promiscuously. Eare birds flut- 

 tered in confusion, and intelligent beasts raced for the amuse- 

 ment of the guests. The immortal peach, £§ <$fc of a peculiar 

 species was just ripe, and was hanging from every tree. 

 This peach was so rare, that it bore fruit only once in three 

 thousand years. Besides there was strange fragrance filling 

 the air, dulcet music, wonderful bowers and pavilions, and 

 towering pagodas, all these added to the voluptuousness of 

 the entertainment. 



In order to show special and marked respect for the 

 Immortal Eight, Wang-mu appointed her five daughters to 

 wait upon them in the gardens. They were of extraordinary 

 beauty, and in the sumptuous feast in which the eight parti- 

 cipated, they did their utmost to persuade them to take wine, 

 which is a token of a high honour. A compliment was paid 

 by Wang-mu in asking Lao Ts'ai-ho to give a dancing solo 

 5§ Ifc in which as has been stated he was specially 

 dexterous, and he danced and sang causing great applause 

 and laughter from the spectators. At last, the Immortal 

 acolytes brought in a great dish of peaches, for the celestials 

 were not ignorant of the digestive value of the dessert, and 

 each took two. Unawaredly they got thoroughly intoxicated 

 and after a long period of high glee, they took leave of 

 Wang-mu and her daughters and departed. 



